Stormwater

Invoices for the 2025 stormwater management fee were sent in early to mid-January. The 2025 annual fee remained at $105. Payments were due on February 15, 2025. You can pay the bill using the payment link below. Alternatively, payments can be sent or hand-delivered to the City’s offices at 7437 Village Square Drive, Suite 200, Castle Pines, CO 80108.

If you have questions about stormwater billing, email stormwater_billing@castlepinesco.gov or call 303-705-0210. For information about the City’s stormwater utility, other than billing, follow the various links below or contact the City at stormwater@castlepinesco.gov or 303-705-0200.

PAY STORMWATER UTILITY FEE

Stormwater Management

To cover the costs of managing and maintaining stormwater infrastructure, residents and commercial property owners pay an annual stormwater utility fee. This annual fee provides dedicated funding for the City's management of stormwater system infrastructure.

Many property owners formerly paid a stormwater fee as a part of their water bill from the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD). However, when the City began operating and maintaining the public stormwater system in early 2023, CPNMD ceased collection of a stormwater fee. The City began collecting a citywide stormwater fee for the second half of 2023. Moving forward, the fee will be collected on an annual basis.

The stormwater utility fee allows the City to provide an upgraded, consistent service across the entire city. Collecting a stormwater utility fee aligns with other Front Range municipalities and enables the City to ensure proper funding levels to meet stormwater system infrastructure needs moving forward.

Since the City began managing the stormwater infrastructure, several capital improvement projects have been completed. These projects are critical to maintain proper drainage and to protect lives and property in Castle Pines by controlling stormwater runoff. Recently completed projects include improvements to Esperanza/Whisper Canyon Trail drainage, Happy Canyon Creek culverts, Daniels Park pond cutoff wall, and Daniels Gate open space drainage.

The City is also preparing for two major improvement projects in the near future. These projects will require significant investment and are critical to maintaining the City’s stormwater infrastructure and ensuring proper stormwater drainage.

Happy Canyon Creek restoration project (anticipated in late 2026) – estimated cost of $2 million

The City took a close look at the Happy Canyon Creek corridor as part of the open space ownership transfer from CPNMD and found that the creek is in the early stages of deterioration. The City is prioritizing this project to quickly address these issues, avoid more costly repairs in the future, and protect downstream water quality, as this stretch of Happy Canyon Creek is near the headwaters of the system. Key components of this project include channel stabilization, overbank/floodplain enhancements, and habitat improvements. The City is partnering with the Mile High Flood District on these improvements and is currently in the planning and design phase of the project. The project is located northeast of the Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard intersection.

Spring Tributary (south fork) restoration project (anticipated in 2030) – estimated cost of $2 million

In 2019, the City and the Mile High Flood District identified the restoration of the Spring Tributary as a priority as residential development occurred near Lagae Road, south of Castle Pines Parkway. This portion of Spring Tributary is upstream of current and future downstream restoration projects that are located on the east side of I-25 in The Canyons. This project will help protect these ongoing projects by stabilizing eroding banks and expanding overbank areas. The City is partnering with the Mile High Flood District on this project. The project is located east of the roundabout at Lagae Road and Monarch Boulevard.

Stormwater is rain or snowmelt that falls on streets, parking areas, rooftops, and other developed land and is not absorbed into the ground. As the stormwater flows over driveways, lawns, and sidewalks, it picks up debris, chemicals, and other pollutants. The stormwater either flows directly into nearby bodies of water or travels through the drainage systems to get there. Storm drains are not part of the sewer system, so water in storm drains is not treated before entering streams, rivers, or lakes.

By managing stormwater, communities are better able to protect our environment, reduce flooding, support healthier streams and rivers, and create healthier, more sustainable communities.

The City of Castle Pines is committed to maintaining a proactive stormwater management program to improve the quality of runoff entering the storm drain system and receiving streams. The program plays a critical role in controlling flooding, enhancing safety, protecting the environment, and meeting the requirements of federal environmental regulations.

Castle Pines holds an Environmental Protection Agency Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, which requires the City to monitor, maintain and control its stormwater facilities. Stormwater must be managed for the good of the entire community because water runoff does not follow subdivision or community boundaries. The City is responsible for the repair and maintenance of existing stormwater facilities as well as the construction of needed capital improvement projects related to the stormwater system.

  • Administering the MS4 stormwater permit for the City to include inspection services, reporting, and annual reports to the CDPHE
  • Maintaining stormwater infrastructure
  • Administering criteria and best management practices identified in the stormwater manual
  • Maintaining membership in professional stormwater organizations and providing public informational advertisements in the local newspaper as required under the MS4 permit
  • Performing development review of stormwater plans for private development
  • Providing the Program Description Document for review and comment upon request. Please contact the Public Works Department at pwrequests@castlepinesco.gov.

Stormwater Utility Fee

To cover the costs of managing and maintaining stormwater infrastructure, residents and commercial property owners pay an annual stormwater utility fee. This annual fee provides dedicated funding for the City's management of stormwater system infrastructure.

Many property owners formerly paid a stormwater fee as a part of their water bill from the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD). However, when the City began operating and maintaining the public stormwater system in early 2023, CPNMD ceased collection of a stormwater fee. The City began collecting a citywide stormwater fee for the second half of 2023. Moving forward, the fee will be collected on an annual basis.

The stormwater utility fee allows the City to provide an upgraded, consistent service across the entire city. Collecting a stormwater utility fee aligns with other Front Range municipalities and enables the City to ensure proper funding levels to meet stormwater system infrastructure needs moving forward.

Stormwater management projects

Since the City began managing the stormwater infrastructure, several capital improvement projects have been completed. These projects are critical to maintain proper drainage and to protect lives and property in Castle Pines by controlling stormwater runoff. Recently completed projects include improvements to Esperanza/Whisper Canyon Trail drainage, Happy Canyon Creek culverts, Daniels Park pond cutoff wall, and Daniels Gate open space drainage.

The City is also preparing for two major improvement projects in the near future. These projects will require significant investment and are critical to maintaining the City’s stormwater infrastructure and ensuring proper stormwater drainage.

Happy Canyon Creek restoration project (anticipated in late 2026) – estimated cost of $2 million

The City took a close look at the Happy Canyon Creek corridor as part of the open space ownership transfer from CPNMD and found that the creek is in the early stages of deterioration. The City is prioritizing this project to quickly address these issues, avoid more costly repairs in the future, and protect downstream water quality, as this stretch of Happy Canyon Creek is near the headwaters of the system. Key components of this project include channel stabilization, overbank/floodplain enhancements, and habitat improvements. The City is partnering with the Mile High Flood District on these improvements and is currently in the planning and design phase of the project. The project is located northeast of the Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard intersection.

Spring Tributary (south fork) restoration project (anticipated in 2030) – estimated cost of $2 million

In 2019, the City and the Mile High Flood District identified the restoration of the Spring Tributary as a priority as residential development occurred near Lagae Road, south of Castle Pines Parkway. This portion of Spring Tributary is upstream of current and future downstream restoration projects that are located on the east side of I-25 in The Canyons. This project will help protect these ongoing projects by stabilizing eroding banks and expanding overbank areas. The City is partnering with the Mile High Flood District on this project. The project is located east of the roundabout at Lagae Road and Monarch Boulevard.

What is stormwater?

Stormwater is rain or snowmelt that falls on streets, parking areas, rooftops, and other developed land and is not absorbed into the ground. As the stormwater flows over driveways, lawns, and sidewalks, it picks up debris, chemicals, and other pollutants. The stormwater either flows directly into nearby bodies of water or travels through the drainage systems to get there. Storm drains are not part of the sewer system, so water in storm drains is not treated before entering streams, rivers, or lakes.

By managing stormwater, communities are better able to protect our environment, reduce flooding, support healthier streams and rivers, and create healthier, more sustainable communities.

How does the City manage stormwater?

The City of Castle Pines is committed to maintaining a proactive stormwater management program to improve the quality of runoff entering the storm drain system and receiving streams. The program plays a critical role in controlling flooding, enhancing safety, protecting the environment, and meeting the requirements of federal environmental regulations.

Castle Pines holds an Environmental Protection Agency Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, which requires the City to monitor, maintain and control its stormwater facilities. Stormwater must be managed for the good of the entire community because water runoff does not follow subdivision or community boundaries. The City is responsible for the repair and maintenance of existing stormwater facilities as well as the construction of needed capital improvement projects related to the stormwater system.

City responsibilities include:

  • Administering the MS4 stormwater permit for the City to include inspection services, reporting, and annual reports to the CDPHE
  • Maintaining stormwater infrastructure
  • Administering criteria and best management practices identified in the stormwater manual
  • Maintaining membership in professional stormwater organizations and providing public informational advertisements in the local newspaper as required under the MS4 permit
  • Performing development review of stormwater plans for private development
  • Providing the Program Description Document for review and comment upon request. Please contact the Public Works Department at pwrequests@castlepinesco.gov.
STORMWATER RESOURCES

We can all do our part to keep the stormwater in Castle Pines clean. Here are some simple tips to help ensure that pollutants don't contaminate nearby bodies of water:

      • Use chemical fertilizers and pesticides sparingly. Sprinklers and rain wash chemicals into nearby storm drains and eventually into area streams and lakes. Even lawn clippings contain pollutants. Leave clippings on the lawn as natural fertilizer or compost them.
      • Clean up after pets. Pet waste contains pollutants that can contaminate surface water.
      • Wash cars at commercial car washes instead of at home in your driveway. The water you used to wash your car in the driveway drains to creeks and other surface water.
      • Prevent dripping and spilling of automotive fluids. Repair leaks and recycle oil, antifreeze, and other fluids.
      • Properly dispose of paints, solvents, used oil, cleaning products, and other hazardous household wastes.

Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems, and is caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water cause algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle. There are several things residents can do to reduce the potential of nutrients getting into our waterways.

Castle Pines detects and eliminates pollution from entering the City storm drains as part of the illicit discharges and stormwater quality requirements ordinance. Residents and visitors can help prevent pollution entering storm drains and waterways. Things to look for include:

      • An unusual color of the water
      • An unusual or foul odor
      • Suds or puddles when there has not been recent precipitation
      • Any unusual-looking substance leaving the storm drain
      • Illegal dumping of waste near storm drains (e.g., household chemicals, automobile fluids)
      • A large number of dead or dying animals, including fish, crayfish, insects, waterfowl, or other animals near a waterbody

To report a concern or spill, contact the Public Works Department at pwrequests@castlepinesco.gov.

Keeping stormwater clean

We can all do our part to keep the stormwater in Castle Pines clean. Here are some simple tips to help ensure that pollutants don't contaminate nearby bodies of water:

      • Use chemical fertilizers and pesticides sparingly. Sprinklers and rain wash chemicals into nearby storm drains and eventually into area streams and lakes. Even lawn clippings contain pollutants. Leave clippings on the lawn as natural fertilizer or compost them.
      • Clean up after pets. Pet waste contains pollutants that can contaminate surface water.
      • Wash cars at commercial car washes instead of at home in your driveway. The water you used to wash your car in the driveway drains to creeks and other surface water.
      • Prevent dripping and spilling of automotive fluids. Repair leaks and recycle oil, antifreeze, and other fluids.
      • Properly dispose of paints, solvents, used oil, cleaning products, and other hazardous household wastes.

Nutrient pollution

Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems, and is caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water cause algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle. There are several things residents can do to reduce the potential of nutrients getting into our waterways.

Illicit discharges and reporting

Castle Pines detects and eliminates pollution from entering the City storm drains as part of the illicit discharges and stormwater quality requirements ordinance. Residents and visitors can help prevent pollution entering storm drains and waterways. Things to look for include:

      • An unusual color of the water
      • An unusual or foul odor
      • Suds or puddles when there has not been recent precipitation
      • Any unusual-looking substance leaving the storm drain
      • Illegal dumping of waste near storm drains (e.g., household chemicals, automobile fluids)
      • A large number of dead or dying animals, including fish, crayfish, insects, waterfowl, or other animals near a waterbody

To report a concern or spill, contact the Public Works Department at pwrequests@castlepinesco.gov.